Credit Card Fraud

Posted on December 12, 2011 by

Citibank sent me an SMS tonight informing me of unusual activity on one of my [two Citibank] credit cards -the one I rarely use, but did use a few times during my recent trip to the States. As a result, they immediately -but temporarily- blocked that particular credit card (and processed a replacement with a new account number). It turns out that there were 3 online purchases from December 9 to 12 which, evidently, I did not make.

This exact scenario happened to a colleague of mine a few years back. I never forgot that story. In fact, while I was in the States last year and this year, it crossed my mind. But since no such fraudulent activity occurred last year, I didn’t really expect it to happen anymore. So much for that!

I’m actually very impressed at how Citibank (Philippines) was able to detect such a thing and how they handled the situation. I’m still very unimpressed, however, at how they do not have a toll-free number to call from countries outside the Philippines when you need to reach their Customer Service.

UPDATE: The replacement credit card arrived in less than 2 days!

Posted in anecdotes, information, travel, useful information | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Adjustment Time

Posted on December 5, 2011 by

So far I haven’t had the urge to cross the street on the pedestrian lane, unlike last year. Perhaps that’s ’cause last year, I went to LA, Chicago, New York, then back to LA whereas this year, my trip to the States was 36 days spent entirely in New York City where no such rule really applies -just like Manila ;)

I am, however, experiencing a renewed sense to segregate my trash properly. Paper, recyclables (bottles, plastic bottles, cans), and “trash”. This is a good thing.

One thing I love is how most things here -like food- are suddenly “cheap” to me. No more 1,000 Peso (equivalent) burger meals, etc.

However, I have to keep reminding myself to stop converting everything from Peso to Dollar, from Celcius to Farenheit.

I also have to start getting used to the fact that I no longer have to compute for tax since, here, tax is built-in.

Posted in mobile post, NYC, random thoughts, Third World Chronicles, travel, useful information, useless information, wala lang :) | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Home is Where They Are

Posted on November 30, 2011 by

Since I had A LOT to carry between the elevator and my condo unit, Jorge already heard/smelled me even before I could get in. I heard him crying all the way from the elevator. As soon as he caught sight of me, crying turned into excitement. But as soon as I picked him up, his excitement cleary turned into confusion, just like last year.

I often wonder what goes on in their minds when I’m away. I figure, on regular days, they probably expect I will be back after a few naps or by their next meal time. But what happens when I’m gone day after day, night after night? Do they think I’m never coming back…that the one feeding them is their new Master?

For Jorge, who has been through several turn overs (from kennel to me for 3 nights to Jal’s family in Laguna for a year then back to me for over 2 years now), maybe he does think I’m never coming back…that, when I’m gone for a long time, it’s yet another transition. Hence the excitement immediately followed by confusion. “I thought you were never coming back!”

For PeeWee, who has known only me, save for a few weeks or months he has stayed over at Mom’s, I think it’s simpler. “Ah, she’ll be back soon enough.”

There is one thing I realized, which I am actually quite embarassed to admit, in the 5 weeks I spent with Anna, Rick, and their overgrown Bull Terrier pup Deckle: despite my profession of love for PeeWee and Jorge, I haven’t given them THE BEST care. I’ve taken them for granted, especially PeeWee. That ends now.

Posted in Jorge, mobile post, PeeWee, useless information | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Travel Woes

Posted on November 29, 2011 by

Travel, at least for me, wouldn’t be complete without mishaps, it seems…

On the limo on route to JFK, I realized I’d left my coat and jacket at Anna’s so I had to ask the chauffer to turn back. Embarassing!

Back in the limo, my US cellphone (which I had just used a few minutes before) suddenly went missing.

As soon as I got to the boarding gate, with the intention to look through my belongings one by one for the missing cellphone, an airport official paged for me. He was holding my iPad which I’d apparently left in the tray at the security check (not entirely my fault). Whew!

I finally got to sit down and found the cellphone inside my make-up kit. Haaaaay.

Posted in mobile post, NYC, travel | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

8-McDo, You Suck

Posted on October 21, 2011 by

I hardly ever order from 8-McDo (delivery), but tonight I did. The call center said “Your order will arrive in 30 minutes or less” but it arrived in 48 minutes.

Before the rider arrived, I called to follow up twice. They said the branch will call me but they never did. When the rider arrived, I asked if my order was FREE. He said NO, so I didn’t accept the order.

Still no call from the branch, I asked the call center for the branch’s number and called them myself. I asked the Branch Manager what the “30-minute guarantee” means. He said “Your order will arrive within 30 minutes.” I asked “What if it does not arrive within 30 minutes?” His genius answer? “If the customer will still accept the order…” I interrupted him and said “So it’s not FREE?!” He said “Ok, Ma’am, you don’t have to pay for your order.” I told him the rider had already left. He said that as soon as the rider gets back to the branch, he would just have my order replaced then delivered again. I wasn’t satisfied with that. I asked him again “So what does your guarantee mean? ‘The order will arrive within 30 minutes.’ Mine didn’t. So what happens to your guarantee?” He had no answer.

I hate to say this but…ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Posted in only in the Philippines, reviews, Service, Third World Chronicles | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

24/7

Posted on August 8, 2011 by

Sometimes I wonder what I do all day. I barely get any sleep; I don’t read; I surf the net but I don’t really watch anything on YouTube nor view anything randomly; I haven’t been able to follow my diet for months nor visit the doctor, as I should; I hardly hang out with friends anymore; I haven’t watched bands in ages; I haven’t gone on a road trip in ages; I’m hardly home long enough to fix up around the house; I don’t get to spend as much time with Jorge and PeeWee as I’d like; I don’t go to the office everyday, although I do work A LOT from home or wherever I am…

So what do I do all day?

Posted in random thoughts | Leave a comment

TBNT

Posted on July 31, 2011 by

You don’t know how, for yeeears, I prayed long and hard for you to love me. “Even for just a day,” I begged God repeatedly. Recently you told me that you did, at one point, albeit ever-so-briefly. Now that I know your definition of “love”…Thanks, but no thanks.

Posted in eros, introspection | Leave a comment

One Day

Posted on July 27, 2011 by

One day, if you ask me when, I will say…

It wasn’t when you canceled our date only for me to catch you with your ex-girlfriend at our favorite restaurant;
It wasn’t when you made me share the seat on your 2-seater sports car with a girl you were apparently also dating;
It wasn’t when you fathered your 3rd baby by that 17-year old;
It wasn’t when you continued to screw that woman who once literally tried to run over me;
It wasn’t when you repeatedly chose that girl -who’s had a hold on you by-the-balls for so long just because she has managed to buy you with Millions-worth of expensive watches and gadgets- over me;
It wasn’t when you told me you had HIV even if, really, you just couldn’t tell me you were fathering a 4th child;
It wasn’t when you fathered your 5th child (nor your 6th);
It wasn’t when you passed your cellphone around containing that video of you having sex with some sexy-star which led me to throw a fork at you;
It wasn’t when you unfairly accused me of coming between you and other girls…

One day, I will say “…when I got tired.”

One day…

Posted in eros, hay...buhay, introspection, memory lane | Leave a comment

A review: The Old Spaghetti House

Posted on July 23, 2011 by

Even I find it hard to believe I’d never been to The Old Spaghetti House until tonight. (Or maybe I have, but I just don’t remember?) As usual, I availed of a voucher and, as usual, if it weren’t for this I probably would still be “missing half of my life”.

Everything I ordered was yum-meh! From the Fried Mozzarella Sticks to the Lasagna, 5-Cheese Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, Spaghetti with Meatballs, and Vanilla Yoghurt Shake.

Yes, I dined alone; No, I didn’t finish everything. In fact, apparently Php 1,000 (which I got at 50% off, thanks to Ensogo) is very difficult to consume at a place as reasonably priced as The Old Spaghetti House. I took about 60% of the food home.

One thing slightly turned me off though: how they did the math. I’d rather not bore anyone reading this with the details since it will involve quite a bit of math (read: not everyone’s favorite subject). But TOSH, a promo is a promo. Don’t join one if you’re gonna try to get around it.

The verdict: Will this pizza-pasta junkie come back? Hell, yeah!

Posted in Food review, reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A review: Gayuma ni Maria

Posted on July 18, 2011 by

I’ve been to a Gayuma restaurant before, yeeears ago. That one was on Esteban Abada (street parallel to Katipunan Avenue, across Ateneo). And the reason I remember it well is because that’s where the Campers (my high school friends) and I tasted a cake called “Better Than Sex”. That’s also where I bought a couple of penis-shaped hand soaps. So how can I forget?

I remember another one along Granada (although I never went to that one).

This one is along Vito Cruz Ext. close to the intersection of Anonas Ext.

I made a reservation last month but there was a legendary storm that night so I canceled last minute. They were understanding enough about it; I suppose I was not the only one who canceled due to the weather.

As I was flipping though my printed-out vouchers this afternooon (I arranged them according to end date of validity -which was very smart!) I noticed that this voucher expires on July 21. Tun, dun, dun, dun…I leave for Coron tomorrow and won’t be back till the 22nd. In a slight panic, I called Gayuma to ask if they would accept a reservation for tonight. They’re full till the 20th, Marcia said. I asked her if I could come by at about 545pm (it was 5pm at that time). When she found out I was coming by that early, and dining alone, she agreed.

The place: Cozy in a very whimsical way.

The service: Fast (then again, I was the only one there at that time) and accommodating.

The food: It took me quite a while to decide on what to order. I found the menu a bit difficult to read; The type of food they serve didn’t quite appeal to me.

All that I ordered, however, were hella good. From my very safe choices of Lumpiang Barako (aka Cheese Sticks) P125 + Kala ni Mare (aka Calamares) P135 [appetizers] to My Country-side Fling (sweet and very tender Pork, served with Rice) P215 [main course] + Chocolate Mousse (I don’t know what it’s called on the menu since I didn’t see it on the menu) P125 [dessert].

As usual, it was a bit of a challenge to use up the entire P500 (value of the voucher which I got for only P250), especially when dining alone in a place such as Gayuma where the menu is quite inexpensive.

The verdict: I definitely enjoyed my experience. Now, would I come back? If I’m in the area or to accompany a friend, maybe. But despite the very tasty food at very reasonable prices, it’s not one of those places I will crave.

Posted in Food review, reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment